Improvement in watch-cases



J. F. WATSON.

7 Watch Case. No. 587. Reiissued Aug. 17, 185 8.

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UNITED STATES \V. E. BALDWIN AND E. BLISS, OF NEWARK, NE'W JERSEY,ASSTGNEES OF JOHN F. WATSON.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATCH-CASES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.19,972. dated April 13,1858; Reissue No. 587, dated August 1711858.

-To all whom it may concern:

of the Queen of Great Britain, has invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Watch-0ascs, of which the follo win g is a clear, full,and exact description, reference being made to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification.

This improvement in watch-cases relates to that class known as magichunter-case, which, as is well known,consists oftwo cases, an interiorand an exterior. The interior holds the works of the watch, and isfurnished with a metallic back and a glazed dial front. The exterior iscomposed of a ring for holding the body of the watch, with an open framehinged to one side, and a closed back to the opposite. The pendant isattached to the interior case and extends through a socket in the ringof the outer case, and the inner case is so arranged that it can bereversed in the outer by being taken out, so that the dial may faceeither the open frame or the closed back of the outer case, thus formingan open-face or hunting watch.

This improvement in watch-cases consists, first, in attaching thependant (in double-case watches) to the'outer instead of the inner case,thus leavin g the inner case and its attachments to the outer, free ofthe pendant, whereby its position, and consequently the position of thefigures on the dial-plate when it is reversed in the outer case to formeither a huntin g or open-face watch, is not controlled by the pendantas has heretofore been the case second, connecting theinner case withthe ring of the outer case, so that the inner case containing the worksand dial can be reversed and held within the ring of the outer case toexhibit either the back or the face through the bezel, and so that theinner case in either position maybe heldin the ring of the outer caseindependent of the closing of the outer case; third, in shifting thedial one-quarter of a circle in reversing the inner case containing theworks and dial of the watch in the outer case by so arranging the socketfor the spring-catches which connect the cases with each other that onreversingthe inner case in the outer to form either an open-face orhunting watch the figure XII of the dial is placed at right angles tothe pendant when the dial faces the closed back, as in ordinaryhunting-watches and at the pendant when the dial faces the open bezel asin ordinary open-face watches; fourth, constructing the outer ease withan interior flange or rib in connection with a flange or projectionaround the body of the watch when the rib on 3 the outer case is soarranged as to sustain the body of the watch, whether the face isopposite to the open ringor the closed back.

In the accompanying drawings is represented a watch-case embracing myimprovements, in WlllCll- Figure 1. represents a front vie W of theinner case in which the works of the watch are inclosed. Fig. 2represents aback view of the same, and Fig. 3 represents an edge View.Fig. 4 represents a side view of the outer case open. Fig. 5 representsan edge view of the cases connected, the outer case being in sec tions.

My improved case consists of two parts or cases, one inclosed within theother, the interior holdingthe works and forming the body of the watch;and it is so arranged that it can be reversed in the ring of theexterior case to face in either direction. The exterior case consists ofa ring, a, to which is attached a pendant or handle, g, and a metalback, I), is hinged to one side of the ring a, and closes upon it in theusual manner in watches, and to the opposite side an open ring or bezel,c, is hinged. A rib or projection is formed on the interior of the ringfor a bed to receive a projecting rib, 71, around the body of the watch.The interior case is provided with a glazed front covering the dial anda closed back. On the outside of the ring of this case are twospring-catches, d and e, which retain it to the ring of the outer caseby catching into a circular groove, K, extending around the interior ofthe ring a, which admit of the catches enterin g the groove atdifi'erent points in order to shift the dial one-quarter of a circle inreversin g the inner casein the outer, while at the same time a circularenlargement or flange, h, on. the inner case rests on the rib or edge ofthe ring a. The inner case containing the works of the watch can be. putinto the ring to either so that the glass of the inner case faces theopen ring or bezel c of the outer case, with the figure XII of thedial-plate at the pendant, (then the watch resembles an ordinaryopen-face watch,) or so that the metal back oftheinner case appearsthrough the open bezel c, with the figure III of the dial at the pendantand the figure XII at right angles thereto; then the watch resembles ahuntingwatch. In either position in which the inner case is putinto theouter the flange on the inner case rests upon the interior rib or edgeof the ring a of the outer case, and the springcatches d and e retain itto the outer case without closing the bezels.

In order to remove the inner from the outer case, it is necessary topress on a projection, e, which withdraws the catch 6, when the innercase can be raised and taken out. Thus it will be seen that the innercase can be readily reversed in the ring of the outer case and thereinheld, notwithstanding the outer case may be open; and as the pendant isconnected with the ring of the outer case instead of that of the inner,and as the arrangement of the groove in the outer case admits of thecatches entering it at different points, the dial is shifted one quarterof a circle to bring the figure XII in the proper position in relationto the pendant in reversing the inner case in the outer to form either ahunting or open-face watch.

: Another advantage resulting from attaching the pendant to the ring ofthe outer instead of the ring of the inner case is that the laborandexpense of fitting the ring ofthe outer case around the shank or neck ofthe pendant is avoided.

Having thus described this improvcmentin watch-cases, what is claimedtherein as new, an d desired to be secured by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. Attaching the pendant in double-case watches permanently to the ringof the outer case, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. Connecting the inner case with the ring of the outer case, so thatthe inner case con taining the works and dial can be reversed and heldwithin the ring of the outer case to exhibit either the back or the dialthrough the bezel, and so that the inner case may be held in the ring ofthe outer case independently of the closing of the outer case, as setforth. 7

3. In reversing the inner case containing the works and dial in theouter case to present the dial on either side, shifting the dialone-quarter of a circle, substantially as herein described, or byequivalent means, so that the figures of the dial may be properlylocated relatively to the pendant for either the ordinary open-facewatch or the ordinary hunting- Watch.

4:. Forming the ring of theinner with aflange or rib, substantially asdescribed,in combina tion with a corresponding flange, rib, or rest onthe ring of the outer case, to give the required support to the innercase within the outer case when reversed to present the dial in eitherdirection, as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have subscribed our names.

WIOKLIFFE E. BALDWIN. ELIHU BLISS.

Witnesses:

' RICHARD A. MoCURnY,

THOMAS G. BROWN.

